Heard It Here First

*Written By Megan Mann*   Marshmello and SVDDEN DEATH’s four-stop “MELLODEATH” tour is almost concluded; don’t blink! This duo has been making a racket across more than just venues. While this tour has limited stops spread throughout April 2024, each stop wields potential for more than a standard show experience.

Fans of the new duo are abuzz with the rolling victories from this heavy-hitting double-headline, following multigenre aficionado Marshmello’s departure from the mainstream pop world, thrilling headbangers across the globe with his return to dubstep.

There’s been more brewing than new music for the deep-deviants of dubstep; something that has had fans on edge, with eyes and ears open, and their social media groups lively with hints of a special merch pop-up set prior to each of their sold-out stops. This, of course, has been more than just merch-slinging.

@marshmello

We really shut down the streets of Chicago #popup #chicago #dubstep

♬ original sound – Marshmello

Alarms poised to have Minnesotan headbangers on the road by 6:30am, The Mall of America west entry began to house hundreds of tired, yet thrilled fans. Limited wristbands were issued for one of these special merch pop-ups, right in the heart of a nationally recognized tourist and commerce hotspot.

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We spoke with Jack Trash, Founder of SIMshows (short for Sound In Motion), who has promoted a majority of events that have put MN on the map, and organized the local MELLODEATH tour stop.

>> “This popup was a unique addition to the landscape of music events in the area. What did the process of organizing this popup into the show look like; what brought it all to life?”

>> “When we confirmed MELLODEATH for The Armory, the agent brought up possibly doing some kind of pop-up event. I was super into it, so our team brainstormed ideas.  We thought about things that were ‘Minnesota’ or ‘Minneapolis’ and presented them to their team.”

Prior locations for these pop-ups have included Larimer Lounge in Denver, and The Weiner’s Circle, in Chicago.

“Locations like the Walker Spoon & Cherry, a typical brewery block party set-up, Bde Maka Ska, Stone Arch, etc… and obviously the Mall Of America,” cited JT.

“They loved the Mall Of America from the get-go. I approached the folks at the Mall Of America and they were super down, even excited at the opportunity to do something unique and different like this. The Mall Of America was amazing to work with on every level, and really helped us make this the reality that it became.  Then the fans showed up and represented in ways I could have only hoped for. They brought their intense passion and love for EDM, they came to headbang and rage, yet they respected the needs of safety from the Mall Of America side as well. This was truly a uniquely special moment in EDM culture for MN, and I am so lucky to have been a part of this journey.”

Lucky wristband-holders had the opportunity to purchase tour merch ahead of the sold-out official event at The Armory that evening. They were then directed into a sanctioned floor on the Huntington Bank Rotunda of the Mall, which has housed live music, dance, and speakers through the years – but nothing quite like this.

Fans jam-packed up the four levels of the mall balconies, preparing for the spectacle in a place nobody would have expected to see laser deployments (Interstellar Lighting), spots, and rails.

The pair showcased a diverse set build, which included elements of heavy bass as foretold by their new MELLODEATH Tapes Vol. 1, a well-loved track by a certain Grammy award-winning producer featuring Flowdan vocals, and tapping into some nostalgia with Avril Lavigne acappellas, Wonderwall & more. While the music only lasted about thirty-five minutes, fans had no complaints as they regrouped to head to the final destination.

The historic Armory in Minneapolis, MN is the third stop of the tour and has brought many tour visions to life on its’ modular stages. Hosting upwards of seventy-five events a year which have included the likes of GRiZ, Flume, Excision, Subtronics, Illenium, Rezz, Deadmau5, BTSM, and many more, The Armory in collusion with SIMshows, are no stranger to electronic events, and allow nothing but the best in production. This musical oasis of the Midwest regularly draws fans from neighboring states, Canada, and of course, Minnesota.

The show commenced following a Meet & Greet for a few special ticketholders. Creeping up from the underground, Munk, initially identified by the world via online trap remixes and flips, has been reborn into a culture of authentic Industrial Techno and Deep House.

The mysterious YVM3 “took stage” following, confusing those unfamiliar with the anonymous project, as the stage lay empty – word quickly spread to those that hadn’t heard of them before, as b/w inky digitized landscapes and fractalled red objects melted across the LED wall; rumbling synths bubbled up into a full roar, alongside crashing drum loops to kick off the atypical experience, driving forth the bounds of cerebral intensity throughout the duration of the hour-long set.

Direct support’s attendance rang in strongly for the thousands of fans who packed the space ahead of the German-born producer’s set – Virtual Riot, loved by Riddim and Dubstep connoisseurs alike, turned up the energy alongside VJ Neurite. The selections featured a well-curated blend of bangin’ bass music, showcasing the producer’s extensive release list with the iconic dubstep label Disciple, with some wildcard future bass-infused drops to hold the eyes and ears of fans.

“I never thought I’d say this one day, but I’m really happy that I moved to MPLS, MN. I f*ckin’ love it!” The new MN resident then encouraged fans to check out his courses as an instructor at a local Ableton-certified school for producers called “Slam Academy.”

Following a short changeover, the room cut to black. A slow, ethereal operatic introduction filled the corners of the venue, and fans recognized the piece as the kickoff track from the MELLODEATH Tapes Vol. 1, “Ceremony.” A keystone element of their stage was kicked into effect, as two silhouettes appeared behind the bottom of two vertically paralleled decks, a feature of the double-decker staging.

“Minneapolis, what is up!?” Roared SVDDEN DEATH, cutting right before the keyboard scale and drop into the full set experience; fans screamed as flames synced to the four-note bridge, and crashed with the boom of fireworks; spots scanned up and down the crowd, before a cut transition into “Vortexblade.”

The duo showcased heavy-hitting originals first and foremost, whilst paying homage to current fan favorites, such as “Like That “by LYNY x Peekaboo with a VIP twist, and a “Skeeyee” ID.

Pulsating red visuals crept across the wall, as dozens of lasers kicked on in conjunction with cryo. Marshmello and SVDDEN DEATH split themselves behind the top and bottom stages shortly after the introduction. They pushed on into the second track of their recent collab EP, “Triumphant,” with a ramp-up into Techno.

This set drove forth many riddim heavy beats, with heavy metal imploring a number of mosh pits throughout the evening and spawning a Wall of Death or two. While many groups avoided these instances, many dove straight into the madness, keeping the energy at an all-time high. 

MELLODEATH was quite vocal during their B2B, introducing playful banter with the crowd, and between each other. 

Marshmello began winding up the crowd, eventually turning to SVDDEN DEATH and stating “If we sold out to The Armory tonight, what does that make us?”

SVDDEN DEATH raised the mic and grinned – “f*ckin’ sellouts.”

They spun forward into their popular collaboration, “Sellouts.” Mechanical figures danced through the visuals, contrasted by flashing lightbars on the stacked staging; nearing the end of the set at this point, production had fully been kicked into overdrive, pairing lasers and cryo with dozens of spots, beckoning forth the intensity of a fulfilling set that lives rent-free in the minds of attendees.

Smashing through a SVDDEN DEATH remix of “Happier” by Marshmello was a bittersweet sentiment to Marshmello’s departure from the Pop world, and an indicator that while he is moving on to deeper and darker things, this prior identity still lives within the vision of the project. The pair drove home the show with a heavy “Crusade” VIP, followed by the remaining Fireball track from the pair’s new EP.

Next up, is MELLODEATH’s sold-out Texas stop at The Factory! What do you think fans should expect to see from this powerful double-headlining duo? Let us know down below in the comments!

Learn More About MELLODEATH here: https://mellodeath.com/

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